retirement savings

Splitting up makes a mess of your finances, as Lynn, a nurse living in Florida knows all too well. Her 2008 divorce from her husband of 28 years left her in debt, with bad credit, and with limited financial skills. She's already begun to dig out, but she needs a better plan.

When it comes to managing financial matters, you can't go wrong by hoping for the best but planning for the worst. In other words, underpromise and overdeliver. What does that look like in real life? Read on for some figures and calculations that point the way towards prudent retirement planning.

In many ways, Social Security is just like any other asset you hold in your retirement nest egg. Yes, it's a key asset -- one that promises a lifetime, inflation-adjusted payout to everyone who vests into the system, based on their age, salary, and years of contributions. But, as with any holding,...

Planning for retirement? Don't panic. Here's why you should ignore the market mayhem: You have complete control over the most important component of your retirement plan -- your contributions.

Even if Social Security weren't falling apart -- which it manifestly is -- the average retiree benefits essentially amount to about what you'd earn working full time at a minimum wage job. That's hardly the retirement lifestyle you want. Here's a plan that will allow you to retire comfortably.

In part one of this three-part series on retirement savings, we reviewed how to best manage a 401(k). But as today's companies continue to combat the tough economy by downsizing, part two explores what to do with your employer-offered retirement plan if you lose your job.

Wouldn't it be great if you could plot your retirement with one simple mathematical equation? We're not there yet, but Lincoln Financial Group comes close. Their formula: Just save up 10 times your annual income for retirement. But does the 10x Rule really work?

It's more than a question of "Do I have enough money?" Practicing retirement is a way to dip your toe into the post-work waters and see if they're too hot, too cold, too "just not you yet," or just right. Are you really ready financially -- and emotionally? Here's how to find out.

Are you on the right financial path to retire with dignity -- or are you more likely to run out of money and spend your "golden years" dependent on family or the government to cover monthly expenses? A "Monte Carlo analysis" can help you determine how much money you may need, and how much you should save.

Even the smartest people can do dumb things when it comes to money. Do you find yourself accumulating credit-card debt for goodies you don't really need -- and failing to plan for retirement? Here's one financial adviser's five-step plan to break bad habits.